A three-hour traffic operation targeting scholar transport vehicles along Vryheid’s busiest morning routes has uncovered widespread safety and compliance failures, with 62 charges issued between 05:30 and 08:30 in separate operations during last week.

The ‘Morning Scholar Transport Operation’ included areas such as Utrecht and Deputation Street, Church and Republic Street, and intersections around Hlobane Street; and formed part of Phase 1 of a focused enforcement drive aimed at protecting schoolchildren.

Eight officers, under the supervision of Superintendent NS Biyela and TP Msimango, inspected vehicles transporting learners to school. The operation concentrated on roadworthiness, driver documentation and adherence to traffic regulations.

Seatbelt and maintenance concerns dominate

The most alarming finding was the high number of seatbelt violations. 16 charges were issued for seatbelt-related offences – the single highest category recorded during the operation. Authorities noted that non-compliance with seatbelt regulations poses a direct safety risk to learners.

Vehicle maintenance also emerged as a serious concern. 10 charges were linked to parking and handbrake defects, suggesting poor upkeep of vehicles entrusted with transporting children daily. Additional roadworthiness issues included tyre defects (three cases, including smooth tyres); faulty stop lamps (three); hooter defects (three); rear lamp defects; a right front headlamp violation; and even a missing or defective battery clamp.

Documentation and overloading violations

Documentation offences were equally troubling. Six drivers were charged for failing to produce a valid Professional Driving Permit (PrDP), while another six faced charges related to driver’s licence violations. One vehicle was found to be unlicensed.

Overloading, a persistent problem in scholar transport, resulted in three charges. Other infringements included number plate offences (four), a windscreen defect, a traffic sign violation, a defective disc, and failure to have a compliant fire extinguisher on board.

In total, 62 charges were recorded in just three hours.

Authorities stress proactive inspections

Msimango said the recent series of multiple accidents nationwide involving schoolchildren, often linked to reckless driving or unroadworthy vehicles, made proactive inspections essential.

“It is important to check scholar transport regularly, especially after the recent accidents involving learners across the country,” Msimango said. “Many of those crashes were caused by reckless driving or vehicles that were not fit to be on the road. We cannot wait for tragedy before we act.”

Officials described the findings as evidence of ongoing non-compliance within the scholar transport sector. Concerns were specifically raised about driver qualifications and vehicle fitness, both critical components of learner safety.

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.